Baseball bat choke device



Sept. 30, 1959 A PlETRQNUTQ ET AL 3,469,839

BASEBALL BAT CHOKE DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1966 ATTORA/EXST United StatesPatent 3,469,839 BASEBALL BAT CHOKE DEVICE Joseph A. Pietronuto, 3231Lafayette Ave. 10465, and Robert Sands, 3235 Cambridge Ave. 10463, bothof Bronx, NY.

Filed Sept. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 580,714 Int. Cl. A63]: 59/06, 69/00 US.Cl. 273-25 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present inventionrelates to baseball bat devices and more particularly to a bat devicewhich will aid the batter in gripping the bat at a desired distance fromits physical end or knob.

The practice of gripping a bat at a distance from its end is known aschoking up and is a common practice among baseball players. As a resultof choking up improved control may be obtained with a heavier andbroader bat. When a batter chokes up, he grips the bat closer to itscenter of gravity, hence the moment created by the weight of the bat atits center of gravity is less than what it would be if the bat weregripped at its end or knob.

According to the present invention a simulated baseball bat end or knobis provided which is not the actual physical end of the bat. As aresult, a batter may choke up to the same desired position each time hegrips the bat.

Among the advantages gained through the use of the simulated bat knob orbat choke is that the batter will now be less likely to twist his wristat the end of the swing. This practice of twisting the wrist isgenerally undesirable. Batters who choke up usually turn their wrists atthe end of their swing as a natural reaction when following through andcompleting a swing since the end of the bat below the grip, if not heldfirmly, has a tendency to be directed towards the upper wrist or forearmof the batter, and the batter therefore twists his wrists to avoidcontact of the bat end with his forearm.

The bat choke, by providing a simulated bat knob may prevent thetwisting of the Wrist when batters choke up. Batters who do not choke updo not generally twist their wrists because the knob of the bat, byproviding a firm grip and guide, prevents this from happening. In asimilar manner, the simulated bat knob of the present invention willprevent this wrist twisting.

The bat choke may in addition, be utilized as a practice instrument toaid in the positioning of the batters hands during bunting. In bunting,the batters hand slides from the normal batting position at the end ofthe bat handle to a position near the broad portion or hitting area of abaseball bat. By placing the bat choke near the broad portion of thebaseball bat, the bat choke acts as a guide stop for the batters hand ashe changes his hands to the bunting position.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic ofthe invention are pointed out in the claim, the invention and the mannerin which it may be carried out may be further understood by reference top CC the description following and the accompanying drawmgs.

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the bat knob of the present inventioninstalled on a baseball bat.

FIG. 2 is a cut view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the bat knob of the presentinvention taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cut away detail of another embodiment of the bat choke ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is an end view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like referencenumbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The present invention comprises a simulated bat handle choke 1 which isfabricated preferably of a rubber, plastic or strong flexible substancewith a knob portion 18 shaped in the manner of a baseball bat knob orend, said choke 1 including a vertical hollow portion 2 of generallycylindrical shape of an approximate diameter slightly smaller than thatof a baseball bat handle 3.

The outer periphery 4 of said choke 1 includes a generally longitudinalslit or cleavage line 5 running through to the hollow portion 2 whichenables the bat choke 1 to be opened so as to accommodate the variouswidths along the actual bat handle 3 and also to enable the bat choke 1to be emplaced on the bat handle 3 by slipping the bat choke 1 over theactual bat handle knob 6 and be optional to the use of the bat.

Various gripping means may be utilized to secure the bat choke 1 to thebat handle 3 and. prevent the bat choke 1 from slipping along said bathandle 3 during use.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, the internal periphery of thehollow portion 2 comprises integral vertical or horizontal serrations inthe shape of ridges 7 and cavities 8 which grip the bat handle 3 and areheld by the natural tension reaction of the rubber or plastic bat choke1 opposing the deformation resulting when the bat handle 3 is insertedthrough the hollow portion 2. This embodiment is not restricted infriction. means along the internal periphery of the hollow portion 2 toridges 7 and cavities 8. Appropriate gripping means such as abrasiveparticles embedded into the internal periphery of said hollow portion 2may also serve the gripping function.

Alternate gripping means may be used in conjunction with or as opposedto the natural tension acting through friction means.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, a metal or plasticspring clip 10 of generally cylindrical shape conforming to that of theouter periphery 4 of the bat choke 1 is emplaced in declivity 11. in thebat choke 1. The spring clip 10 may contain a slit 12 so that it mayexpand with the bat choke 1 as said bat choke 1 is opened to accommodatethe various widths along the bat handle 3 and also to enable said batchoke 1 to be emplaced on the bat handle 3 by slipping the bat choke 1over the actual bat handle knob '6.

Two additional alternate gripping means are illustrated in FIG. 4, thesemay be used in conjunction with or as opposed to any other grippingmeans.

A generally cylindrical metal or plastic spring clip 13 is fabricatedwith the bat choke 1 and is so constructed that the clip 13 rests withinthe bat choke 1 in an internal area 14 of conforming size and shape. Thespring clip 13 may contain a slit 15 so that it may expand with the batchoke 1 whenever such expansion is necessary.

Also shown in FIGURE 4 is an alternate gripping means which comprises anexpandable band or ()-ring 16 which may be slid along the outer surfaceof the bat choke 1 into a groove 17 or declivity of conforming shape inthe outer periphery 4, said groove 17 having a diameter exceeding theactual diameter of said ring 16. The O-ring 16 may be used inconjunction with or separate from other shown grip means.

In operation, the bat choke 1 is expanded and slipped over the actualbat knob 6. The choke 1 is then moved to a position along the bat handle3 corresponding to the position where the batters hands are to rest whenhe chokes up.

The batter merely grips the bat as if the bat choke 1 were in fact, theactual knob of the bat. This procedure results in aiding a batter tochoke up.

If the bat choke 1 is to be used to aid in bunting, the bat choke 1 isslid up the bat handle 3 to a position where the batters hand shouldgrip the bat when bunting. The bat choke 1 then acts as an automaticguide stop for the batters hand.

The choke gives the batter the feeling of the end of the bat, as well asthe support of the hands to prevent hands from slipping down from thechoked position.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms ofdescription; it is recognized, though, that various modifications arepossible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail,what is claimed is:

1. An adjustable bat choke having the characteristics References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,628,100 2/1953 Beebe 27381.4 1,026,990 5/1912Matson 27372 1,931,429 10/1933 Buckner et al. 273 2,091,458 8/1937Sleight 27372 2,608,409 8/1952 Pinkerton 273--194 2,859,040 11/1958 Gowet al 27365 3,203,697 8/ 1965 Berzatzy 27375 ANTON O. OECHSLE, PrimaryExaminer P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.L. 27372

